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Learning the notes of the piano
Piano Lessons Workshop #1: Major Scales (i)
In music, there is a pattern for everything! I'm going to teach you the pattern used to create major scales.
First, let's start with the basics. There are 12 major scales; one for every major key on the piano
You have the white keys:
C major D major E major F major G major A major B major
... and then you have the black keys (called "sharps" or "flats"):
C Sharp or D flat D Sharp or E flat F Sharp or G flat G Sharp or A flat A Sharp or B flat
Today, we will learn how to form the following major scales:
(1) C Major Scale (2) D Major Scale (3) E Major Scale (4) F Major Scale (5) G Major Scale (6) A Major Scale
In order to form major scales, you have to understand the concept of "whole steps and half steps." I have a free piano lesson on "whole and half step intervals" at: http://www.hearandplay.com/p2abc3xkpt.html
... but for the sake of this e-mail lesson, I will recap:
Whole steps and half steps describe distance in music. That is, the distance in notes from one key to another.
------------- Whole Step -------------
A "whole" step always skips a key...
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Half Step
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A "half" step never skips a key...
Remember this poem:
"A half step is from KEY TO KEY with NO keys in between,
A whole step always SKIPS a key with one key in between"
EXAMPLES:
"D" is 1 whole step higher than "C"
Why? Because if you start at C and "skip" a key, you'll arrive at "D". What key are you skipping? Let's see:
C --- (skip C#) --- D
However, "C#" is 1 half step higher than "C"
Why? Because you are NOT skipping any keys to go from "C" to "C#."
So essentially:
1 Whole Step = 2 keys 1 Half Step = 1 key
More examples:
C to D = 1 whole step
C to E = 2 whole steps
... and so on.
(Whole Step = "w" *** Half Step = "h")
The Major Scale pattern is as follow:
w - w - h - w - w - w - h
This means:
1. From the starting note, the second note will be 1 (w)hole step higher.
2. From the second note, the third note will be another whole step higher.
3. From the third note, the fourth note will be a (h)alf step higher.
4. From the fourth note, the fifth note will be a whole step higher.
5. From the fifth tone, the sixth note will be a whole step higher.
6. From the sixth tone, the seventh tone will also be a whole step higher.
7. From the seventh tone, the last tone will be only a half step higher.
In C major:
1. The starting note is "C" 2. 1 whole step up is "D" (w) 3. Another whole step up is "E" (w) 4. 1 half step up is "F" (h) 5. 1 whole step up is "G" (w) 6. Another whole step up is "A" (w) 7. Another whole step up is "B" (w) 8. 1 half step up is "C" (h)
Exercise:
Repeat these 8 steps with the following major scales. The answers are listed below:
2) D major 3) E major 4) F major 5) G major 6) A major
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D major:
1) Starting note = ______ 2) 1 whole step up = ______ 3) 1 whole step up = ______ 4) 1 half step up = _____ 5) 1 whole step up = ______ 6) 1 whole step up = ______ 7) 1 whole step up = ______ 8) 1 half step up = ______
E major:
1) Starting note = ______ 2) 1 whole step up = ______ 3) 1 whole step up = ______ 4) 1 half step up = _____ 5) 1 whole step up = ______ 6) 1 whole step up = ______ 7) 1 whole step up = ______ 8) 1 half step up = ______
F major:
1) Starting note = ______ 2) 1 whole step up = ______ 3) 1 whole step up = ______ 4) 1 half step up = _____ 5) 1 whole step up = ______ 6) 1 whole step up = ______ 7) 1 whole step up = ______ 8) 1 half step up = ______
G major:
1) Starting note = ______ 2) 1 whole step up = ______ 3) 1 whole step up = ______ 4) 1 half step up = _____ 5) 1 whole step up = ______ 6) 1 whole step up = ______ 7) 1 whole step up = ______ 8) 1 half step up = ______
A major:
1) Starting note = ______ 2) 1 whole step up = ______ 3) 1 whole step up = ______ 4) 1 half step up = _____ 5) 1 whole step up = ______ 6) 1 whole step up = ______ 7) 1 whole step up = ______ 8) 1 half step up = ______
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Note: Remember, in major scales, each note is played separately. Only in chords are more than 2 notes played at the same time.
Scales = play each note separately Chords = play all notes together
Here are the answers:
D major
D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D
E major
E - F# - G# - A - B - C# - D# - E
F major
F - G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F
G major
G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
A major
A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A
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Piano Lessons Workshop #2: Major Scales (ii)
I've already taught you the basics. Let's just quickly finish up the major scales so that we can learn the chords tomorrow!
If you need a reminder on forming scales, pull out yesterday's e-mail lesson...
Here are the remaining major scales to learn:
B Major C# / Db Major D# / Eb Major F# / Gb Major G# / Ab Major A# / Bb Major
Using the same formula as yesterday, create the following major scales:
--------------------------
B major:
1) Starting note = ______ 2) 1 whole step up = ______ 3) 1 whole step up = ______ 4) 1 half step up = _____ 5) 1 whole step up = ______ 6) 1 whole step up = ______ 7) 1 whole step up = ______ 8) 1 half step up = ______
C# or Db major:
1) Starting note = ______ 2) 1 whole step up = ______ 3) 1 whole step up = ______ 4) 1 half step up = _____ 5) 1 whole step up = ______ 6) 1 whole step up = ______ 7) 1 whole step up = ______ 8) 1 half step up = ______
D# or Eb major:
1) Starting note = ______ 2) 1 whole step up = ______ 3) 1 whole step up = ______ 4) 1 half step up = _____ 5) 1 whole step up = ______ 6) 1 whole step up = ______ 7) 1 whole step up = ______ 8) 1 half step up = ______
F# or Gb major:
1) Starting note = ______ 2) 1 whole step up = ______ 3) 1 whole step up = ______ 4) 1 half step up = _____ 5) 1 whole step up = ______ 6) 1 whole step up = ______ 7) 1 whole step up = ______ 8) 1 half step up = ______
G# or Ab major:
1) Starting note = ______ 2) 1 whole step up = ______ 3) 1 whole step up = ______ 4) 1 half step up = _____ 5) 1 whole step up = ______ 6) 1 whole step up = ______ 7) 1 whole step up = ______ 8) 1 half step up = ______
A# or Bb major:
1) Starting note = ______ 2) 1 whole step up = ______ 3) 1 whole step up = ______ 4) 1 half step up = _____ 5) 1 whole step up = ______ 6) 1 whole step up = ______ 7) 1 whole step up = ______ 8) 1 half step up = ______
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Now that you have completed the worksheet above, check your major scale answers with the answers below:
B Major
B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A# - B
C# / Db Major
Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C - Db
D# / Eb Major
Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D - Eb
F# / Gb Major
F# - G# - A# - B - C# - D# - F - F#
Note: With the F# major scale, technically the "F" would be referred to as "E#" (even though "E" does not have a black key in front of it). But since we are not reading music, I will keep it simple.
G# / Ab Major
Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - G - Ab
A# / Bb Major
Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G - A - Bb
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Workshop #3: Major Chords (i)
This lesson is going to be so much easier than the last two.
You know why? Because you've already done all the work! Building chords is no more than choosing certain notes out of the major scale. For example, the C major scale is:
C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
With the rules that I'm about to show you, a major chord is formed by taking C, E, and G out of the scale and playing them all together like this:
C + E + G
If you've never played a major chord before, why don't you take the time to play C, E, and G all together and hear how it sounds!
Ok, let's continue ...
Here is the magic rule:
1) Number the notes of each major scale
For example, here is the numbered C major scale:
C = 1 D = 2 E = 3 F = 4 G = 5 A = 6 B = 7 C = 8
2) To form a major chord, simply choose the 1st, 3rd, and 5th note out of any major scale.
In the C major scale, that is:
C = 1 E = 3 G = 5
Thus, the C major chord is:
C + E + G
3) Since you have learned 12 different major scales, that means that there are 12 different major chords.
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Exercise:
Take the worksheets from e-mails #1 and #2 and write numbers on top of each note of the major scales. Then pick out the 1st, 3rd, and 5th tones of each major scale to form major chords. Write your answers below:
C major = C + E + G D major = ____________ E major = ____________ F major = ____________ G major = ____________ A major = ____________
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Now, compare your answers with the answers below:
C major = C + E + G
D major = D + F# + A
E major = E + G# + B
F major = F + A + C
G major = G + B + D
A major = A + C# + E
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Workshop #4: Major Chords (ii)
To be truthful, there's not too much to do in this lesson but finish the rest of the major chords. Why don't you take the time to complete those on the worksheet below:
B major = ____________ C# / Db major = ____________ D# / Eb major = ____________ F# / Gb major = ____________ G# / Ab major = ____________ A# / Bb major = ____________
----------------------
Now check your answers with the ones below:
B major = B + D# + F#
C# / Db major = Db + F + Ab
D# / Eb major = Eb + G + Bb
F# / Gb major = F# + A# + C#
G# / Ab major = Ab + C + Eb
A# / Bb major = Bb + D + F
Congratulations... you now know all 12 major scales and chords! Here is a summary below:
-------------------- 12 Major Scales --------------------
C major
C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
D major
D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D
E major
E - F# - G# - A - B - C# - D# - E
F major
F - G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F
G major
G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
A major
A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A
B major
B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A# - B
C# / Db major
Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C - Db
D# / Eb major
Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D - Eb
F# / Gb major
F# - G# - A# - B - C# - D# - F - F#
G# / Ab major
Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - G - Ab
A# / Bb major
Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G - A - Bb
--------------------
12 Major Chords
--------------------
C major = C + E + G
D major = D + F# + A
E major = E + G# + B
F major = F + A + C
G major = G + B + D
A major = A + C# + E
B major = B + D# + F#
C# / Db major = Db + F + Ab
D# / Eb major = Eb + G + Bb
F# / Gb major = F# + A# + C#
G# / Ab major = Ab + C + Eb
A# / Bb major = Bb + D + F
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Lesson 1: Major Scales
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If someone asked you, "what is a scale?" ... would you be able to answer them?
Scales are important. They are the basis of melodies and chords. Without knowing your scales, you are a car mechanic without his tools.
What are scales? A good way to define a scale is to list the following characteristics:
-A scale is an organized series of pitches -A scale utilizes accidentals, when necessary -A scale consist of a series of notes that differ in sound -A scale is linked to the concept of "Keys" in that a song which utilizes a given scale is said to be in that key (For example: "Mary had a little lamb in C major").
In our 300-pg course, we teach the following principle:
A major scale has 8 tones. The (C major scale) is: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. In other words, the (C major scale) consists of all the white keys in between to the "C" notes.
It is very important that you remember this poem:
"Half steps are from key to key with NO keys in between, Whole steps always skip a key with ONE key in between."
(H) Half Step: key to key (for example, C to C# is a half step because there are no skipped notes)
(W) Whole step: every other key (for example C to D because C# is skipped ---- or F to G because F# is skipped).
The major scale is built using the following pattern:
W-W-H-W-W-W-H
For example, in C major:
C to D is a whole step (w). D to E is a whole step (w).
However, E to F is a half step (h).
F to G is a whole step (w). G to A is a whole step (w). A to B is a whole step (w) and ...
B to C is a half step (h).
With this principle, you should be able to learn your major scales in all 12 keys! Just start with the first note and build on top of it.
C = C + D + E + F + G + A + B + C
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